Smell Your Way To An Energetic Or Calming Ambiance

With household chores, family gatherings, school events and work activities, life can get a little hectic this time of year. So, when you actually have time at home, you either want to unwind and relax or use the free moments to bolster more energy and finish the day's to-dos.

“Scented candles, diffusers and sprays work very well to bring a calming, positive essence to a house, or to add a bit of energy to the air,” says Dr. Rachel Herz, a scent expert from Brown University and the author of “The Scent of Desire: Discovering Our Enigmatic Sense of Smell.”

Here are some of her tips to keep your household energy levels on an even keel during the winter months:

After arriving home from a busy day at work, the smell of oranges can help you relax and put you into a good mood. Research has shown that orange scents reduce anxiety and increase calmness in stressful situations and increase positive mood overall. For a lift that can help you cope with holiday stress, try spritzing Febreze Air Effects in the Citrus & Light scent.

Several studies have shown that peppermint aroma can enhance both physical and mental energy and performance. So, when your motivation is flagging, a sniff of fresh peppermint aroma can be a good boost.

Holiday meals are frequent and filling, and the last thing you want to do is gain extra weight this season. One way to help you resist extra sweets is by infusing the room with a lovely vanilla scent. Try lighting a Febreze Vanilla & Refresh candle after dinner or in the hours between festivities. The scent will reduce your desire to nibble on all those sugary treats, and help cut down the pumpkin pie cravings.

Sleep well so you are refreshed and ready for the next day. Before crawling between the sheets, spray some lavender around the bed, or light a lavender candle while taking a warm bath. This scent will help you to calm down so you can fall asleep, even if you are struggling with heavy stress or a huge workload.

“'Tis the season to create a positive atmosphere at home by drawing on your sense of smell to help beat the stress and feel calmer, happier and invigorated,” Herz says.